William o



(No Model.) W. 0. GOTTWALS.

BILL FILE.

No. 527,278. I Patented 001;. 9,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

WILLIAM O. GOTTWALS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BILL- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,278, dated October 9, 1894.

' Application filed May 2, 1894. Serial No. 509,816. (No model.)

a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, who

have declared my intention to become a citi- .5 zen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bill-Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of bill files which comprise a file-board and arches secured thereon, or other suitable paper-hold- 1 ing devices, adapted to retain letters, bills and other papers. n

One feature of my invention relates to a bill-file the paper-holding devices of which are composed of stationary arch-membersand movable arch-members, the separation of these parts being adapted to permit the impaling or placing of papers on the arches.

t It is the object of this invention to provide for a bill file comprising a file-board and suitable paper-holding devices, a cover of convenient and improved construction adapted to inclose and protect the papers which the file contains and to be readily opened to permit the free inspection of the contents of A further object of my invention is to pro- 3o vide for a bill file, with or without a cover, a

paper-holding device of verysimple and cheap construction which may if desired be permanentlyfiledaway with its attached papers.

With such objects in view my invention 3 5 consists in the parts and combinations thereof o ing drawings means for carrying it into practical e'fiect, without limiting my improvements in their useful applications to the par-' ticular construction which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated.

Insaid drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bill-file embodying my improvements, the cover being shown in its closed position. Fig.2is a similar view with the file opened to permit the inspection of its contents. Fig. 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale of a paper-holding device embodying certain features of my; invention, which may plied to or removed from the file.

be employed with the herein described fileboard and cover. Fig. 4 is a similar view, the movable arch-members of the device being thrown open to permit papers to be ap- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a securing plate for attaching the paper holder to the file-board.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the file-board provided with a suitable paperholding device, and having hinged thereto at the upper end a cover 2. Such hinging may be efiected along the line 3 bya. strip of leather or muslin or in any other preferred manner. The main portion of the cover is indicated at 4 and is provided with side pieces 5 and an end piece 6, these latter parts being properly secured to the portion 4 and to each other. i y r 7 is an end piece forming a portion of the cover and by means of which the latter is hinged to the file-boardas above mentioned. The end piece 7 is also flexibly connected with the portion along the line 8, so that the file may be fully opened as seen in Fig. 2. 9, 9 indicate side flaps hinged to the fileboard at the sides thereof along the lines 10,

and adapted to lie flatin the same plane with the file-board as seen in Fig. 2, or to be folded up against thesides of the pieces 5 and clasped thereto by suitable fastening devices 11, when the cover is closed, as best seen in Fig. 1.

When the parts are in this latter position, it will be observed that the contents of the file are entirely inclosed and preserved from inspection and protected from dust or injury.

The paper-holding device which embodies certain featuresof my improvement comprises a base plate 12, which may be of comparatively thin sheet metal, andis formed at 13 with perforations through which pass the stationary members of the arches. here are indicated at 14: and are formed at their lower ends with flat heads 15, which are' adapted to lie against the surface of the plate Said mom l 12 in contact with which they ar h l y: y

solder or by a confining plate or flangelfi. By :this means the stationary arch-members may be very cheaply assembled with the plateand in such a manner as to have a rigid and durable attachment thereto.

The upper ends of l the arch-members 14 are adapted to be over lapped by the ends of the movable arch memmovable arch-members, substantially as set forth.

7. In a bill file the combination with a paper holding device comprising a base-plate,

a bearing or bearings thereon, stationary arohj members, and movable arch-members having a journal held in said bearing or bearings, of a securing plate adapted to be attached to i the file-board and having a tongue passing between said journal and base-plate, sub- 10 stantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM O. GOTTWALS.

Witnesses:

H. N. Low, CHAS. W. PARKER. 

